Written Answers Thursday 29 March 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the agriculture subsidy appeals system and whether it has made any representations to the European Union on this matter.

Ross Finnie: The EU Agricultural Subsidies appeals procedure has been in operation since November 2000. It was set up to review decisions in relation to the refusal, recovery and reduction of a producers EU subsidy and to ensure that my officials reached the correct decision by applying scheme rules correctly. It does not have the power to change or amend the tightly drawn EU rules within which the schemes operate.

  Against those legal constraints I am satisfied that the appeals panel operates fairly and objectively within its remit. I have made representations to the EU about the current penalty structure for breaches in scheme regulations and would be willing to review the appeals process in the light of any changes that might emerge.

Animal Welfare

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all responses and evidence it received in respect of its consultation on tail docking.

Ross Finnie: All responses to the consultation papers issued by the Scottish Executive on proposals to revise animal welfare legislation in March 2004, on the draft Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill issued in May 2005 and the draft Prohibited Procedures (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 issued in October 2006 have been placed in the Scottish Executive library except where respondents specifically asked for their responses to be treated confidentially.

Castle Tioram

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the refurbishment of Castle Tioram.

Patricia Ferguson: Historic Scotland is on record as confirming that it is willing to consider grant-aid for consolidation and repair of Castle Tioram, and for improving visitor interpretation. This would be without prejudice to any proposals the owner might subsequently make.

Central Heating

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals are currently waiting for surveys as part of the central heating programme in each local authority area and, of these, how many have been waiting for (a) less than three months and (b) three months or more.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not held in the format requested but by main postcode area. The numbers in the following table are therefore by main postcode area:

  

 Postcode
 Waiting Less than 3 Months
 Waiting More than 3 Months
 Total


 AB
 238
 216
 454


 DD
 122
 33
 155


 DG
 133
 78
 211


 EH
 304
 46
 350


 FK
 105
 18
 123


 G
 587
 106
 693


 HS
 68
 14
 82


 IV
 85
 132
 217


 KA
 243
 77
 320


 KW
 55
 83
 138


 KY
 124
 39
 163


 ML
 238
 49
 287


 PA
 210
 91
 301


 PH
 78
 73
 151


 TD
 57
 35
 92


 ZE
 14
 33
 47


 Total
 2,661
 1,123
 3,784

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs under the free central heating programme have been completed by Scottish Gas.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The latest information provided by Scottish Gas shows 4,017 central heating systems having been installed as at 18 March.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it has been billed for by Scottish Gas under the central heating programme.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  As at 23 March 2007, Communities Scotland has been invoiced for 604 completed jobs from Scottish Gas. This does not represent the number of installations to date as invoices are not submitted until all associated work such as energy advice and post installation inspections has been completed.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Gas will meet its target of 6,000 central heating jobs to be completed under the central heating programme by the end of March 2007.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Scottish Gas expects around 5,000 central heating systems to be installed by the end of March. They expect to have completed the installation of 6,000 central heating systems by around mid-April.

  We still expect that the national target of 12,000 installations by the end of March will be achieved.

Central Heating

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating programme installations have been carried out by Scottish Gas, broken down by (a) postcode area and (b) fuel type.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of central heating systems installed by Scottish Gas to 18 March 2007 is shown by postcode and fuel type in the following table:

  

 Postcode
 Gas
 Electric
 Oil
 Solid Fuel
 Total


 AB
 56
 0
 8
 0
 64


 DD
 192
 0
 4
 0
 196


 DG
 21
 0
 1
 0
 22


 EH
 693
 5
 0
 0
 698


 FK
 212
 0
 1
 0
 213


 G
 1,601
 71
 1
 0
 1,673


 HS
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 IV
 10
 0
 6
 0
 16


 KA
 282
 2
 2
 0
 286


 KW
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2


 KY
 212
 0
 0
 1
 213


 ML
 438
 3
 1
 1
 443


 PA
 139
 0
 0
 0
 139


 PH
 34
 0
 1
 0
 35


 TD
 14
 0
 0
 0
 14


 ZE
 0
 3
 0
 0
 3


 Total
 3,906
 84
 25
 2
 4,017

Central Heating

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Warm Deal installations have been carried out by Scottish Gas, broken down by postcode area.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Warm Deal measures which had been installed by Scottish Gas to 18 March 2007 are shown by postcode area in the following table:

  

 Postcode
 Number of Warm Deal Installations


 AB
 45


 DD
 22


 DG
 46


 EH
 120


 FK
 67


 G
 110


 HS
 2


 IV
 10


 KA
 106


 KW
 5


 KY
 79


 ML
 56


 PA
 48


 PH
 68


 TD
 45


 ZE
 0


 Total
 829

Communities

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to ensure that an island does not lose its only petrol station.

Tavish Scott: The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme can help rural petrol stations with the capital costs of upgrading, provided that the station satisfies the scheme’s eligibility criteria, which include a condition that the station must be economically viable in the long term. The scheme does not provide help with running costs.

Communities

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the criteria for eligibility for grants for rural petrol stations should be relaxed in cases where the petrol station is the only one on an island.

Tavish Scott: The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme is administered on behalf of the Scottish Executive by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise through their networks of local enterprise companies (LECs). LECs have discretion to relax certain eligibility criteria where they consider that exceptional circumstances are involved.

Communities

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the effect of reduced ferry fares for island residents on businesses located on the islands.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive will begin later this year, a review of fares structures as part of a broader review of the affordability of public transport. The review will aim to identify scope for rationalising a complex structure and aligning fares more closely with the Executive’s policy aims. These include supporting island economies and the businesses which contribute to them.

Crown Estate

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the Crown Estate Commission submits regular reports to ministers and the Scottish Parliament on its Scottish operations, giving details of the number of any such reports and the dates on which they were submitted.

Ross Finnie: The Crown Estates publishes its annual report in July each year and circulates it widely to a range of interests including Scottish ministers with a portfolio interest, and MSPs with a constituency interest. The Crown Estates also makes an important contribution to the consideration marine policy in Scotland, sitting on both the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy and the Ministerial Working Group on Aquaculture.

Economy

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in growing the economy over the last 12 months.

Mr Tom McCabe: Growing the economy is our top priority and over the last 12 months, the Scottish economy has continued to perform robustly.

  The most recent data show annual GDP growth of 2.3%;

  
The economy has grown above its long-run average rate in each of the past nine consecutive quarters, and
Independent forecasters expect above trend growth for Scotland in 2007.
The strength of the economy can also be seen in the exceptional performance of our labour market:
Over 220,000 Scots have entered employment since the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Our employment rate is at its highest since records began, above the UK average and amongst the highest in the EU-27, and
Our unemployment rate is below the UK rate and close to its lowest ever.

Enterprise

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop and promote the metropolitan region approach in order to stimulate and grow the economy.

Nicol Stephen: The importance of metropolitan regions has been recognised by economic experts internationally, and is a concept to which Scottish Enterprise has given careful consideration.

  A metropolitan region approach is also reflected in the proposed strategic development plans introduced by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006. These will be required in the four city-region areas in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen. Strategic Development Planning Authorities, involving the local authorities in each city-region, will be required to set out in their plans a vision for the development of their region, and a spatial strategy. They will also be required to prepare an action programme for its delivery. This should set a spatial planning framework for stimulating sustainable economic growth.

Enterprise

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific policies and resources it has put in place to stimulate and support corporate social responsibility.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to encouraging business to contribute positively to society, in whatever form that might take. A wide range of Scottish Executive policies promote the three main strands of corporate social responsibility (CSR) – social, environmental and economic.

  The Scottish Executive also supports the work of Scottish Business in the Community, a business-led organisation which promotes CSR to Scottish business. Examples of our support include representation on the board and project funding for initiatives dealing with Employer Supported Volunteering, Healthy Working Lives and reducing the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

  Other examples of ways in which we support CSR include:

  
Determined to Succeed, through which we are encouraging businesses to support schools on enterprise education. More than 7,000 school/business partnerships have been established – nearly four times the target set for the end of 2006;
the Executive’s agreement with Microsoft, signed in January, and outlining the company’s commitment to devote its entire CSR effort in Scotland to help tackle NEET, and
£400,000 funding for "Kick Start", through which Scottish Premier League football clubs will double the number of vulnerable young people taking part in programmes to increase their skills.

Equal Opportunities

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage and promote flexible working practices in both the public and private sectors.

Mr Andy Kerr: Employment law is a reserved matter. Material relating to this is distributed by the lead UK Departments.

  Public bodies are under either a statutory duty or are expected to follow guidance on Best Value, including a requirement to promote equal opportunities in the workplace.

  The Scottish Executive launched a Policy and Practice document on Supporting the Work-Life Balance in NHSScotland in 2005. NHS boards are required to implement the document, which contains a number of a model policies, ranging from flexible working and job sharing to home working

  The Scottish Executive has a flexible working policy which is available to almost all of its own staff, not just those with children.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much time per annum is spent by each Scottish fishery patrol vessel in patrolling fishing grounds, also broken down into the time spent in each ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) square.

Ross Finnie: Fishery Protection Vessels (FPVs) operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency spent a total of 1,117 days patrolling the fishing grounds in 2006.

  A record of the time spent by individual FPVs in each International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) statistical rectangle is not held centrally. The information requested could be estimated through an analysis of available satellite monitoring data but only at a disproportionate cost. However, a record of the time spent patrolling fishing grounds in 2006 at the next aggregated level, ICES sub area, is kept and is given in the following table broken down by each FPV:

  

 FPV
 ICES Sub Areas
 Total


 IIA
 IVA
 IVB
 VB
 VIA
 VIB
 VIIA


Jura
 0.5
 164.5
 64
 0
 23.5
 0.5
 0.5
 253.5


Minna
 0.5
 71.5
 16
 1.5
 217.5
 0
 0
 307


Norna
 0
 20.5
 8
 0.5
 231
 19.5
 1
 280.5


Vigilant
 1
 171
 35.5
 0.5
 56.5
 11
 0.5
 276


 Total
 2
 426.5
 123.5
 2.5
 528.5
 31
 2
 1117

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of time is spent by each Scottish fishery patrol vessel per annum in ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) area VIa.

Ross Finnie: The total amount of time spent by each Fishery Protection Vessel (FPV) of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in ICES area Via: is as follows:

  FPV Jura: 23.5 days.

  FPV Vigilant: 56.5 days.

  FPV Minna: 217.5 days.

  FPV Norna: 231 days.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many scallop fishing vessels were boarded by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency officers in each of the last five years, broken down into those with (a) 10 dredges and over and (b) less than 10 dredges.

Ross Finnie: The number of scallop fishing vessels boarded at sea by officers from the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in each of the last five years, broken down by vessels using a total of 10 dredges or more, and those using less than 10 dredges in total is given in the following table:

  

 
(a) Scallop Vessels with a Total of 
10 Dredges or More
(b) Scallop Vessels with Less than 
10 Dredges in Total


2002
10
1


2003
11
1


2004
19
0


2005
32
1


2006
47
0



  The number of scallop fishing vessels boarded at sea by officers from the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in each of the last five years, broken down by vessels using 10 dredges or more per side of fishing gear, and those using less than 10 dredges per side of fishing gear is given in the following table:

  

 
(c) Scallop Vessels with 10 or More Dredges 
Per Side of Fishing Gear
(d) Scallop Vessels with Less than 10 Dredges 
Per Side of Fishing Gear


2002
6
5


2003
2
10


2004
8
11


2005
7
26


2006
9
38

Higher Education

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of offers to applications was for entry into undergraduate degree courses at each university, showing whether the applicant’s previous educational institution was in Scotland and was (a) a state school, (b) an independent school, (c) a further education college, (d) a university or (e) other institution in the latest year for which figures are available.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is currently being validated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and will arrange for a copy of my reply to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42479).

Higher Education

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of offers to applications was for students domiciled in Scotland for entry into undergraduate degree courses at each university, showing whether the applicant’s previous educational institution was (a) a state school, (b) an independent school, (c) a further education college, (d) a university or (e) other institution in the latest year for which figures are available.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is currently being validated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and will arrange for a copy of my reply to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42479).

Lottery Funding

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with UK authorities in respect of the transfer of £425 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £250 million from other good causes after 2009 to fund the London 2012 Olympic Games and how this transfer will affect Scottish projects.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government to ensure that Scottish projects will be unaffected by a further contribution from the National Lottery to the increased cost of the London 2012 Olympic Games to over £9 billion, as announced by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 March 2007.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive is in close touch with the UK Government on this issue. We welcome its assurance that no existing lottery project need be affected, and it has also agreed with the Big Lottery Fund that resources for the voluntary sector will be protected. In addition, we understand that a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Mayor of London will put in place arrangements for profit sharing to enable the lottery to benefit when land acquired for the games is sold off after 2012.

  We have, however, also suggested to the UK Government that funding streams other than the National Lottery should be used to meet any additional costs of the London 2012 Olympic Games. We will continue to liaise with the UK Government on this important matter.

Lottery Funding

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it is considering to minimise the impact of any reduction in lottery funding on sport and other good causes in Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: We are currently in discussions with the National Lottery distributors in Scotland, including sportscotland, to assess the possible impact of a reduction in their lottery funding. However, it is the UK Government’s intention that no existing lottery project need be affected, and it has also agreed with the Big Lottery Fund that resources for the voluntary sector will be protected.

  I am pleased that we have already secured the agreement of the UK Government that Scotland’s £25 million contribution to £340 million of sports lottery funding will be retained and spent here on Scotland’s athletes.

Marine Bill

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what new powers it is seeking under the UK Government’s consideration of the forthcoming Marine Bill.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is actively reviewing with the UK Government the appropriate balance of responsibilities in relation to the new powers proposed through this legislation.

Meat Industry

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote Scottish beef abroad since the export ban was lifted.

Ross Finnie: I was delighted to attend each of the main European events last year to re-launch Scotch Beef into Europe. I am also pleased that the Executive has awarded Quality Meat Scotland grant under the Marketing Development Scheme towards the cost of agents in both France and Italy to assist with the marketing of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb. We have also supported individual meat companies with both capital and marketing support under the food grant schemes. In addition, the Executive has established a Working Group consisting of representatives from Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Food from Britain and industry bodies to ensure that the industry is aware of what help is available and has a forum in which to raise any issues of concern.

Olympic Games

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have been identified for Scotland from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Patricia Ferguson: We are determined to maximise the benefits of the London 2012 Games and bring the games to as many Scots as possible.

  We will use the games as an opportunity to inspire the nation to get active, to encourage its children to participate in more sport and cultural activities and to bring communities together in celebration.

  The games will allow us to showcase modern Scotland as a great place in which to live, work, visit and do business and will provide an inspirational platform to engage companies of all sizes to be the best they can, participating in an international arena and demonstrating Scotland’s leading edge talent and products.

  Young people, communities, artists and cultural bodies in Scotland will also benefit from their experiences as volunteers, practitioners, participants and audiences in the cultural programme, including an exciting range of local events and activities.

  The games will also help Scotland achieve its ambitious target of growing tourism revenues by 50% by 2015 as games spectators, for example, visit Scotland’s 2012 venue - Hampden Park which will host rounds of the football competition.

Olympic Games

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the Olympic Delivery Authority’s consultation on the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in respect of the impact of the plan on the Scottish workforce.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland has responded to the Olympic Delivery Authority’s consultation on the draft travel plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Olympic Games

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it is making to meet any additional workforce requirements for construction and transport infrastructure projects in Scotland associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tavish Scott: Information on the current transport projects portfolio, which is the main area of civil engineering related activity within the Scottish Executive is published on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk . This helps the construction industry plan its future workforce requirements.

Olympic Games

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and intends to have, with the STUC or its affiliates regarding the impact on the Scottish workforce of the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tavish Scott: The impact on the Scottish workforce of the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games has not featured in any discussions the Scottish Executive has had with the STUC. The Scottish Executive works with construction industry stakeholders (including the trade unions), Futureskills Scotland and the industry Sector Skills Councils in monitoring forecast skills requirements for the construction industry in Scotland. Through Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, a £35 million Construction Skills Action Plan is addressing the needs of the construction industry in Scotland.

Planning

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to Stirling Council to develop and promote the planning system through online access.

Des McNulty: Based on work to date, we estimate Stirling Council will receive £91,000 worth of e-planning systems from the E-Planning Efficient Government Programme.

Planning

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, and what funding it is making available, to ensure that individuals and local organisations have access to advice and advocacy support to enable them to engage effectively in the planning process.

Des McNulty: The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 provides more opportunities for communities to be involved in planning.

  On 9 March 2007 the Executive launched Planning Advice Note 81: Community Engagement Planning with People containing advice and information on the new inclusion measures in the act. It explains when people can become involved, gives advice on the engagement principles and techniques that should help ensure effective engagement in the planning system and provides information on the support, training and advice available to the public.

  For example in the current year the Executive has provided approximately £253,300 of core and project funding to enable Planning Aid for Scotland to provide advice and training to communities on planning matters, and on a project to develop engagement techniques with minority ethnic groups. In addition funding of £20,000 from the Planning Development Programme is being used to develop projects on mentoring for communities and training for community councils prior to local plan inquires.

Prescription Charges

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects to publish the findings of its review of NHS prescription charges and exemption arrangements prior to dissolution of the Parliament.

Lewis Macdonald: A report containing an analysis of the public consultation carried out in connection with the Scottish Executives review of NHS prescription charges was published on the Scottish Executive website on Tuesday 20 March 2007. Further details can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2007/03/19093547/0 .

  The Executive is still considering this report and an announcement on the outcome will not be made before the dissolution of Parliament.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advertising was carried out for the new Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service; when and where the post was advertised; whether anyone was invited to apply and, if so, whether it will provide details; if the post was not advertised, what the reasons were; what criteria applied to the post and, in particular, whether experience in the prison service in Scotland or abroad was required; who determined the criteria; who appointed the new Chief Executive; how many interviews took place and with whom, and, if there was a short list and a long list of candidates, how many candidates were on each.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the appointment of the new Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service followed the Nolan criteria.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30071 on 7 December 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Public Appointments

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) men and (b) women held public appointments in each year since 1999 in (i) total and (ii) each public authority.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is contained in a number of tables of statistics running to several pages, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42436). As the composition of the boards of individual public bodies by gender was not collected by the Executive prior to 2002, the tables only provide this information for the period 2002-06. For the years 1999-2001, the tables of statistics provide a gender breakdown of the ministerial public appointments for all regulated public bodies.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give, in respect of each of the components of the cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, the original cost estimate on which it relied and the current estimate.

Tavish Scott: A breakdown of costs has already been provided by the project promoter and is contained within the Promoters Memorandum for the EARL Private Bill under the Estimate of Expenses and Funding Statement, submitted to the Scottish Parliament on 16 March 2006. The estimated cost of the project calculated at 4th quarter 2004 prices amounts to £497 million.

  The projected outturn cost of the EARL project is between £550 and £650 million.

Rail Services

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local rail passenger journeys which started or finished in the Stirling area there were in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: Over the last five years from 2001-02 until 2005-06, the number of rail passenger journeys starting and finishing at Stirling station from all stations within Scotland are:

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Journeys to Stirling station
597,636
579,401
607,417
671,849
757,464


Journeys from Stirling station
747,601
726,717
795,811
901,320
998,081

Rail Services

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in ensuring that all diesel multiple units in the First ScotRail fleet comply with the current EU Non-Road Mobile Machinery Directive (1997/68/EC) and what preparations are being made to ensure compliance with tighter guidelines to come into effect in 2011.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive through the ScotRail franchise agreement requires the franchisee to comply with all applicable laws at all times.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out to ensure that jobs are safeguarded and created when a company has been awarded Regional Selective Assistance (RSA).

Allan Wilson: Payment of RSA is usually paid in instalments and only after capital expenditure and job targets are met. Before final grant payment, claims confirming achievement of targets certified by an accountant independent from the company are required.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out to establish whether applications for Regional Selective Assistance are from "phoenix companies".

Allan Wilson: There is no strict legal definition of the term "phoenix companies". Each application for RSA is assessed on its own merits, against all of the scheme criteria. In assessing applications we consider a range of information including the background experience of key personnel.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many "phoenix companies" have been awarded Regional Selective Assistance in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: We do not maintain records of this type.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of companies that have been in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance which are under investigation by the Companies Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Allan Wilson: The only company of which I am aware which has received Regional Selective Assistance grant and which has been referred to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Companies Investigations Branch is Simclar (Ayrshire) Limited, in administration. The administrators have a duty under the Company Directors Disqualification Act to report to the Insolvency Service on the conduct of the company’s directors. Colleagues and I have expressed our concerns about the failure of this company to the DTI which has confirmed that Companies Investigations Branch is considering the company for investigation using its powers in the Companies Act notwithstanding that the administrators have the reporting duty I have mentioned. The consideration of companies for investigation is a confidential process and it is not the practice of the DTI to announce whether or not an investigation is taking or will take place.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Innovation and Investment Grants unit liaises with the Companies Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry about checks on companies applying for Regional Selective Assistance.

Allan Wilson: No. There are, however, a number of sources which can be accessed to obtain additional information on companies. Such additional checks would depend upon the circumstances of the case.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of the clawback of Regional Selective Assistance, there have been any occasions when funding has not been returned in full, showing in any such case the (a) total amount that should have been clawed back and (b) name of company.

Allan Wilson: In the last five calendar years, there were 780 offers of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) accepted totalling over £290 million. In the same period the actual amount of RSA paid out was over £203 million and £22 million was recovered.

  There are cases where grant repayable has not been repaid in full. A table listing each company, the amount of grant due to be repaid, the actual grant recovered and the amount not recovered, is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42404).

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies have gone bankrupt after receiving Regional Selective Assistance and, in each case, how many jobs were lost and what the value was of the original grant.

Allan Wilson: All Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant agreements include legally enforceable conditions under which we can seek full or partial recovery of grant monies paid, should breaches of the grant agreement arise. Details of companies, in the last five calendar years, which have become subject to a legal process, after receiving RSA, are listed in the answer to question S2W-32570 on 29 March 2007. It shows the amount of grant to be recovered and any subsequent recovery. At the time a business goes into legal process there is no legal requirement for the administrator or liquidator to confirm how many jobs were lost at the time of their appointment.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government concerning the number of companies in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) that are operating without registering with HM Revenue and Customs.

Allan Wilson: None. We are not aware of any companies in receipt of RSA which have not registered, if required to do so. Not all businesses need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government concerning any companies, in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), that take National Insurance (NI) contributions from workers but do not pass them on or pay the company’s NI contributions to HM Revenue and Customs.

Allan Wilson: We aware of allegations made against one company in receipt of RSA and have passed details of this to HM Revenue and Customs, Debt Management Enforcement and Insolvency Service.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what the shortest turnaround has been in days for obtaining Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) from application to (a) decision and (b) receipt of funding.

Allan Wilson: Prior to submitting an RSA application we encourage companies to discuss the details of their projects with us to prevent them from undertaking any unnecessary work in the early stages of the process.

  The shortest turnaround, in the last three years, for obtaining an offer of RSA from application to decision, is three days. However, this does not take account of the work carried out prior to the application being made.

  In terms of receipt of funding, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32579 on 27 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Road Accidents

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road deaths there were (a) in each police board area and (b) on each individual road in each year since 1999, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form.

  The numbers of road deaths by police force area in 2005 are given in table 37 of Road Accidents Scotland 2005, which was published by the Scottish Executive in November 2006, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41118). Figures for earlier years are available in the corresponding tables in earlier editions. In addition, the numbers of road deaths in each police force area in every year from 1981 to 2005 inclusive can be found in a spreadsheet which is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Transport-Travel/RoadAccidentTables/TablesNovember2006.

  Figures for 2006 should become available in June.

  The Stats 19 data include the road class and number, if any. Figures for the numbers of accidents on individual roads can only be produced from the central statistical database in cases where the roads are of class M, A(M), A and B. The following tables provide these. They are based upon data which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the relevant local authorities would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that local authorities may have made to the statistical information, for use at a local level, about the location of each accident, based upon their knowledge of the roads and areas concerned. In the case of roads, such as the A1, which cross the border, the figures relate only to accidents which occurred in Scotland. Percentage changes have not been provided because they would be practically meaningless, as the figures are so small.

  Road Deaths in Scotland: 1999 to 2005

  

 Road
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 M73
 0
 0
 2
 1
 3
 0
 1


 M74
 6
 7
 0
 5
 1
 4
 3


 M77
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 M8
 1
 9
 4
 2
 3
 2
 1


 M80
 0
 0
 1
 3
 2
 1
 1


 M876
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 M9
 2
 0
 2
 1
 0
 0
 0


 M90
 0
 0
 2
 4
 0
 0
 2


 A(M)74
 0
 0
 0
 5
 3
 1
 2


 A(M)823
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 A1
 5
 7
 3
 7
 1
 1
 5


 A1107
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A1140
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A198
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0


 A199
 2
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2


 A6093
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A6094
 3
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1


 A6105
 1
 2
 0
 1
 2
 0
 1


 A6137
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A68
 2
 3
 2
 2
 2
 2
 1


 A697
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 1


 A698
 2
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A699
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A7
 2
 3
 0
 2
 1
 1
 4


 A70
 4
 0
 4
 1
 0
 4
 4


 A700
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A701
 2
 2
 6
 2
 3
 3
 3


 A702
 0
 5
 1
 2
 2
 3
 0


 A703
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A704
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A705
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A706
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1
 2
 2


 A7066
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 A708
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 0


 A709
 0
 0
 3
 1
 1
 0
 0


 A71
 7
 5
 5
 2
 4
 4
 3


 A710
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A711
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A712
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A713
 1
 0
 3
 2
 4
 1
 3


 A714
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 0
 0


 A716
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A719
 1
 1
 0
 3
 0
 1
 1


 A72
 0
 1
 1
 3
 7
 3
 0


 A720
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 A721
 0
 2
 1
 2
 0
 0
 0


 A723
 1
 0
 1
 2
 1
 0
 1


 A724
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A725
 0
 0
 1
 2
 1
 1
 1


 A726
 1
 1
 2
 0
 3
 0
 0


 A728
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A73
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 0


 A730
 1
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A735
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A736
 1
 0
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1


 A737
 1
 2
 1
 2
 1
 1
 0


 A739
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A74
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1


 A741
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A743
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A745
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A749
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2


 A75
 3
 1
 3
 8
 3
 1
 5


 A759
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A76
 5
 4
 2
 2
 2
 0
 4


 A760
 1
 1
 3
 0
 0
 1
 2


 A761
 1
 0
 1
 1
 2
 0
 1


 A762
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A763
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A77
 3
 4
 7
 10
 12
 12
 3


 A770
 0
 0
 0
 1
 5
 0
 1


 A78
 6
 2
 5
 2
 3
 1
 0


 A780
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A79
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 A8
 4
 5
 5
 7
 4
 3
 2


 A80
 1
 3
 2
 0
 2
 0
 1


 A800
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A8004
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A801
 1
 2
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A8010
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A8011
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0


 A8014
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A803
 3
 2
 3
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A809
 0
 1
 1
 2
 0
 1
 0


 A81
 1
 1
 1
 0
 2
 1
 0


 A810
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A811
 0
 3
 4
 0
 5
 2
 3


 A813
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A814
 0
 1
 0
 4
 2
 0
 3


 A815
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A816
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 2
 0


 A817
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A819
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A82
 13
 9
 7
 12
 7
 7
 10


 A820
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A822
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A823
 1
 0
 0
 2
 1
 0
 0


 A824
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 A827
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A828
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A83
 3
 7
 5
 0
 1
 3
 2


 A830
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A832
 1
 3
 1
 3
 1
 0
 1


 A834
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 A835
 1
 0
 1
 1
 2
 1
 3


 A836
 0
 3
 2
 0
 2
 1
 0


 A838
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A839
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A84
 0
 1
 3
 0
 4
 0
 1


 A841
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A844
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A848
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A85
 0
 8
 8
 2
 5
 7
 7


 A855
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A857
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 2


 A858
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A859
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 3
 0


 A86
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A861
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A862
 0
 0
 3
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A865
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A866
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A87
 0
 2
 3
 0
 0
 3
 1


 A872
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A875
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A876
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 A879
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 A88
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A883
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A887
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A888
 2
 0
 1
 0
 2
 0
 0


 A889
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A89
 3
 4
 1
 1
 3
 2
 3


 A890
 0
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A891
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A894
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A899
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A9
 17
 15
 21
 9
 21
 17
 5


 A90
 9
 10
 18
 10
 13
 13
 9


 A900
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A902
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2


 A903
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A904
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0


 A905
 0
 0
 1
 1
 3
 0
 2


 A907
 2
 2
 1
 1
 2
 2
 1


 A908
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A909
 1
 0
 3
 1
 0
 1
 0


 A9096
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A91
 2
 2
 5
 3
 3
 5
 1


 A910
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 A911
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A912
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A913
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A914
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 0
 0


 A915
 1
 0
 1
 1
 1
 0
 2


 A916
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 0


 A917
 0
 0
 1
 2
 0
 1
 0


 A919
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A92
 6
 4
 8
 2
 5
 7
 7


 A920
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1


 A921
 1
 1
 1
 1
 0
 0
 2


 A923
 1
 2
 3
 1
 2
 2
 5


 A926
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A928
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A929
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 A93
 2
 5
 3
 3
 4
 3
 2


 A930
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1
 1


 A932
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A933
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 2
 1


 A935
 2
 0
 1
 0
 3
 1
 0


 A937
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A938
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A939
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1


 A94
 3
 0
 0
 2
 2
 0
 1


 A940
 0
 3
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 A941
 1
 3
 2
 1
 1
 2
 2


 A944
 3
 1
 1
 2
 1
 1
 3


 A945
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 A947
 1
 1
 1
 5
 3
 1
 6


 A948
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A949
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A95
 0
 4
 2
 1
 2
 0
 1


 A950
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A952
 1
 1
 2
 0
 1
 2
 1


 A955
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 A956
 3
 1
 1
 1
 0
 2
 2


 A957
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A96
 1
 9
 2
 6
 11
 7
 4


 A960
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A961
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 A965
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A968
 0
 1
 2
 1
 0
 1
 0


 A97
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2


 A970
 0
 3
 1
 1
 1
 0
 1


 A975
 2
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 A977
 2
 3
 2
 5
 0
 0
 0


 A98
 1
 3
 3
 1
 1
 3
 1


 A980
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1


 A981
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A985
 1
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1


 A99
 3
 2
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 B1345
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B1347
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B1348
 1
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B1361
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B1377
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B6350
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B6355
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B6357
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B6359
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B6374
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B6397
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B6401
 4
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B6415
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B6438
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B6456
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B7001
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B701
 1
 4
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B7015
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 B7016
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B7019
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B7021
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B7023
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B7026
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B7029
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B7031
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B7037
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 B7046
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B705
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B7052
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B706
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0


 B7065
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B7066
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B7069
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B7070
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B7076
 1
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B7078
 2
 0
 1
 0
 5
 2
 1


 B7081
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 0


 B7083
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B710
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B717
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B718
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B721
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B723
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B724
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B729
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B730
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B742
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B743
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 B751
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B754
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B757
 1
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B758
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B762
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B764
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B765
 0
 2
 1
 1
 0
 1
 0


 B766
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B767
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B768
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B769
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B774
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B775
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B777
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B778
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B780
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2


 B784
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B787
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B789
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B790
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B796
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B797
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B799
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B800
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B8019
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B802
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B803
 0
 0
 2
 2
 0
 0
 1


 B8033
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B8039
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B8046
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B8048
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B8050
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B8053
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B8058
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 0


 B806
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B8068
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B8070
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B8079
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B810
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B812
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B816
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B817
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1


 B819
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B822
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B825
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B827
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 B832
 1
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B833
 1
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0


 B842
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B843
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0


 B844
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B846
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B857
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B862
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B867
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B871
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B880
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B892
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B895
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B898
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B9000
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9001
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 1


 B9002
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B9005
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9006
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 0


 B9008
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 B9009
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9012
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B9015
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B902
 0
 1
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 B9022
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9023
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9025
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9031
 0
 2
 1
 1
 0
 1
 0


 B9032
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9033
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0


 B9040
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 B9068
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9074
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B9077
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 B908
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9080
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B9089
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B9096
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9103
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B9106
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B9113
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B9119
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 0


 B9127
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9128
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B9130
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B9139
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B914
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B9152
 1
 0
 4
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B9153
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B9155
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B9156
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9157
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0
 1


 B9165
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B9170
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B9171
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B921
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 1
 0


 B922
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 B927
 2
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B936
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B939
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 B940
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 B947
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B959
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 B961
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1


 B966
 0
 1
 0
 1
 2
 0
 0


 B974
 1
 0
 1
 0
 3
 2
 1


 B976
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0


 B977
 1
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 1


 B978
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B979
 0
 1
 3
 0
 0
 0
 3


 B981
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 B985
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 B992
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B993
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 B994
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 B996
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 B999
 1
 0
 1
 2
 2
 0
 0


 C Roads
 10
 7
 2
 6
 5
 6
 7


 Unclassified
 54
 54
 60
 40
 50
 48
 46

Road Accidents

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road deaths occurred where excessive speed was a contributing factor in each police board area in each year since 1999, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. Statistics about the factors which may have contributed to the occurrence of an accident are only available with effect from the start of 2005, when the Stats 19 specification was expanded to include such information. It must be emphasised that the contributory factors shown in the Stats 19 returns reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of making the report, and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation: subsequent enquiries could lead to a change in the opinion of the reporting officer. The factors are largely subjective, and depend upon the skill and experience of the reporting officer in reconstructing the events which led directly to the accident, based upon the information available at the time of making the report. There may be accidents for which the reporting officer cannot identify any contributory factors.

  he information which is available is shown in the following table. There are separate codes for "exceeding speed limit" and "travelling too fast for conditions", so the table gives the number of people who were killed in road accidents for which one or both of these was believed to be a contributory factor. Figures for 2006 should become available in June.

  Road deaths in accidents in which "exceeding speed limit" or "travelling too fast for conditions" (or both) was believed to be a contributory factor

  

 Police Force
 2005


 Northern
 8


 Grampian
 16


 Tayside
 8


 Fife
 2


 Lothian borders
 9


 Central
 8


 Strathclyde
 16


 Dumfries and Galloway
 4

Road Accidents

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road deaths occurred where the driver was using a mobile phone in each police board area in each year since 1999, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. Statistics about the factors which may have contributed to the occurrence of an accident are only available with effect from the start of 2005, when the Stats 19 specification was expanded to include such information. It must be emphasised that the contributory factors shown in the Stats 19 returns reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of making the report, and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation: subsequent enquiries could lead to a change in the opinion of the reporting officer. The factors are largely subjective, and depend upon the skill and experience of the reporting officer in reconstructing the events which led directly to the accident, based upon the information available at the time of making the report. There may be accidents for which the reporting officer cannot identify any contributory factors.

  Prior to 2005, therefore, no figures are available. In Scotland in 2005, there was only one road death in accidents for which a driver using a mobile phone was believed to be a contributory factor. That death occurred in the Northern Constabulary area. Figures for 2006 should become available in June.

Road Accidents

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road deaths occurred where the person who died was not wearing a seatbelt in each police board area in each year since 1999, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is not held centrally.

Road Accidents

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the latest Route Accident Reduction Plan studies carried out on the B758.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the last safety audit was carried out on the B758 and which parts of the route were covered by it.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a route action plan study for the B758.

Tavish Scott: The B758 is classed as a local road and is, therefore, the responsibility of those local authorities through which the route runs.

Road Accidents

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents there were on the B758 in each of the last five years and, of these, how many resulted in fatalities and serious injuries, broken down by local authority area.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police. The returns do not cover "damage only" accidents or accidents of which the police are unaware because they were not reported by the public.

  The table below gives the total number of reported injury road accidents which were identified in the Stats 19 returns as occurring on the B758 between 2001 and 2005 and, of these, how many resulted in fatalities or serious injuries. All occurred within the area of South Lanarkshire Council. Figures for 2006 should become available in June.

  It should be noted that the statistics given as follows are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that local authorities may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon their knowledge of the roads and areas concerned.

  Reported Injury Road Accidents Occurring on the B758, by Severity

  

 Accident Severity
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Fatal or serious
 3
 1
 0
 2
 1


 All severities
 13
 7
 11
 9
 7

Road Accidents

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatalities there have been on open roads in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area and expressed as a percentage of total fatalities in each year.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns include information about the normal speed limit for the road at the place where the accident occurred. Non built-up roads are those for which the normal speed limit is more than 40 miles per hour. These roads are sometimes referred to as open roads. The following table gives the numbers and percentages of casualties who were killed in accidents on non-built-up roads. Figures for 2006 should become available in June.

  Deaths in Accidents on Non-Built-Up Roads by Police Force Area, 2001 to 2005

  

 Police Force
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Numbers
Percentages of All Road Deaths in Scotland


 Northern
 35
 22
 26
 28
 23
 10.1
 7.2
 7.8
 9.1
 8.0


 Grampian
 40
 40
 44
 38
 44
 11.5
 13.2
 13.1
 12.3
 15.4


 Tayside
 44
 23
 35
 30
 23
 12.6
 7.6
 10.4
 9.7
 8.0


 Fife
 14
 24
 12
 16
 13
 4.0
 7.9
 3.6
 5.2
 4.5


 Lothian and Borders
 21
 20
 30
 23
 27
 6.0
 6.6
 9.0
 7.5
 9.4


 Central
 14
 21
 19
 12
 15
 4.0
 6.9
 5.7
 3.9
 5.2


 Strathclyde
 71
 63
 72
 57
 46
 20.4
 20.7
 21.5
 18.5
 16.1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 13
 17
 10
 8
 16
 3.7
 5.6
 3.0
 2.6
 5.6


 Scotland
 252
 230
 248
 212
 207
 72.4
 75.7
 74.0
 68.8
 72.4

Road Signs

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve signage for access to the Cairngorms from the A9.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is liaising with the National Park on its signing proposals for the A9 and other trunk roads. Transport Scotland is also liaising with Perth and Kinross Council regarding its proposals for visitor attractions at Blair Atholl associated with the Cairngorms.

Roads

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of upgrading the A830 from Fort William to Mallaig from single to twin track road since the beginning of the project to completion, expressed in 2006 prices.

Tavish Scott: Work on upgrading the A830 trunk road started in the late 1970s and has been completed in many stages. Construction of the final section to be upgraded, from Arisaig to Loch nan Uamh, will begin this summer and is due to be completed in 2008.

  Records of the construction costs of the earlier schemes are no longer kept, but for those sections for which records are still held, the cost of upgrading the road in 2006 prices is as follows:

  

 Scheme
Length
(Km)
Year of
Completion
Actual Cost
(£ Million)
Cost at 2006 Prices 
(£ Million)


 Mallaig-Kinsadel
 2.3
 1988
 4.8
 8.6


 Polnish-Lochailort
 1.7
 1988
 3.6
 6.4


 Lochan Doilead-Kinsadel (Morar Bypass)
 3.0
 1994
 9.0
 12.2


 Loch nan Uamh-Polnish Bridge
 3.3
 1998
 6.0
 7.3


 Kinsadel-Arisaig
 7.0
 2003
 11.6
 12.5


 Arisaig-Loch nan Uamh
 7.0
 2008*
 19.4*
 18.4*


 Totals
 54.4
 65.4



  Note:*Estimated costs and completion date.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated final cost is of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass.

Tavish Scott: The estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass is £45.6 million (excluding VAT).

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass was calculated.

Tavish Scott: The estimated total cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass comprises the following costs:

  

 
Estimated Total Cost 
(Excluding VAT) (£ Million)


Design costs
2.4


Land
2.4


Advance works
1.6


Estimated total cost of protester activity
1.6


Contract tender sum
29.9


Estimated cost of grouting works for ground consolidation
5.9


Moving public utilities 292,500 inc VAT)
1.1


Site supervision
0.7


Total estimated cost
45.6

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how opportunity costs, such as loss of amenity, were factored in to the estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass.

Tavish Scott: The scheme cost includes the provision of appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of the new road on the local environment.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive at which financial year’s prices the estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass is expressed.

Tavish Scott: The estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass is provided in the answer to question S2W-32581 on 29 March 2007. The costs have been expressed at 2006 prices.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass includes a figure for VAT and, if so, how much.

Tavish Scott: The estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass is provided in the answer to question S2W-32581 on 29 March 2007. The estimated final cost is exclusive of VAT.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated final cost of the A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass includes the costs of access roads, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, preparatory works, including engineering and surveying, and other associated costs.

Tavish Scott: Yes.

Traffic

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on the number of car journeys made on the B758 in each of the last five years.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on the number of car journeys made on Hunthill Road, Blantyre, in each of the last five years.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on the number of car journeys made on Bardykes Road, Blantyre, in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: No information is held currently on traffic flows on the B758.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult and involve the communities of South Queensferry and West Lothian in respect of decisions about the type and location of a further Forth crossing.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland will hold public information events during the summer to inform local communities and businesses about the work on the project.

Transport

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following a recent application, it will approve a bus route development grant for Lochaber from funds remaining in the Executive’s budget for this purpose.

Tavish Scott: The Bus Route Development proposal covering the enhancement of services in the Lochaber area is currently being considered.

Transport

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what the final cost was of the tendering exercise for the First ScotRail franchise that took effect from October 2004.

Tavish Scott: The former Strategic Rail Authority were responsible for tendering the current First ScotRail Franchise. The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether full geological samples will be taken on all possible routes for a further Forth crossing.

Tavish Scott: A geotechnical investigation will be made of the route corridors taken forward into the STAG appraisal: this will be in the form of a desk study to inform the current work and will be followed by intrusive investigations collecting data and samples once the route corridor has been chosen.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultants involved in evaluating the potential routes and options for a further Forth crossing have relevant experience in building (a) bridges, (b) tunnels and (c) submerged tubes.

Tavish Scott: The consultants have an extensive range of UK and international expertise in building bridges, tunnels and immersed tube tunnels. Examples of Jacobs and Faber Maunsell’s experience can be found on their websites at www.jacobs.com and www.fabermaunsell.com .

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake up-to-date studies on journey patterns for all vehicles crossing the River Forth to inform the decision on the best route for a further Forth crossing.

Tavish Scott: An Origin/Destination survey was undertaken on north bound Forth Road Bridge traffic on 20 March 2007 to update the existing information. The results of the new survey will be compared with the existing data and used to inform the decision on the Forth crossing.

Transport

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much transport expenditure there was in each (a) regional transport partnership and (b) local authority area in each of the last five years, also expressed on a per capita basis.

Tavish Scott: The Regional Transport Partnerships were established on 1 December 2005 and therefore do not have information for the last five years. The Regional Transport Partnerships have a budget in 2006-07 of £46.6 million. £46.0 million of this budget is currently allocated as follows:

  

 RTP
 (£000)
 Population*
 Per Capita


 SPT
£25,228,000
 2,142,399
£11.78


 HITRANS
£3,530,000
 410,731
£8.59


 NESTRANS
£3,012,000
 437,810
£6.88


 Shetland
£176,000
 22,000
£8.00


 SESTRAN
£9,614,000
 1,408,220
£6.83


 South West TP
£1,112,000
 148,340
£7.50


 TACTRAN
£3,328,000
 525,300
£6.34


 
£46,000,000
 5,094,800
£7.99



  Note: *Population figures from General Registers of Scotland (GROS) for mid-year 2005.

  The Scottish Executive does not hold records of its own spending split by each local authority area. This is because much of the Executive’s transport expenditure (for example the ScotRail franchise subsidy) cannot be readily allocated to individual local authority areas. We do however provide information in the annual edition of the Scottish Transport Statistics publication on total expenditure on transport within the Scottish ministers’ responsibility and this information can be found in on page 229, table 1.11 of the publication.

  Information on their own transport expenditure is provided by each local authority in the same publication on page 230, table 11.3. The following table shows each local authority’s actual expenditure, as published in Scottish Transport Statistics, divided by the population figures published by GROS (mid-year for the year in question). The Scottish Transport Statistics 2007 Edition, providing local authority transport spending for 2005-06, will not be published until the third quarter of 2007.

  

 Local Authority
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 (£000)
 Pop.
 Per Capita
 (£000)
 Pop.
 Per Capita
 (£000)
 Pop.
 Per Capita


 Aberdeen City
£6,651
 211,910
£31
£10,128
 209,270
£48
£15,156
 206,600
£73


 Aberdeenshire
£20,167
 226,940
£89
£23,826
 227,280
£105
£26,766
 229,330
£117


 Angus
£8,864
 108,370
£82
£11,115
 108,130
£103
£11,396
 107,520
£106


 Argyll and Bute
£12,865
 91,300
£141
£14,548
 91,030
£160
£14,645
 91,300
£160


 Clackmannanshire
£2,655
 48,070
£55
£2,882
 47,930
£60
£3,507
 47,680
£74


 Dumfries and Galloway
£13,128
 147,780
£89
£15,249
 147,310
£104
£17,419
 147,210
£118


 Dundee City
£7,872
 145,460
£54
£9,120
 144,180
£63
£10,832
 143,090
£76


 East Ayrshire
£8,858
 120,310
£74
£10,662
 119,740
£89
£11,402
 119,530
£95


 East Dunbartonshire
£9,033
 108,250
£83
£11,474
 107,310
£107
£11,661
 106,970
£109


 East Lothian
£5,435
 90,180
£60
£7,086
 90,750
£78
£8,064
 91,090
£89


 East Renfrewshire
£6,348
 89,410
£71
£7,896
 89,630
£88
£8,157
 89,680
£91


 Edinburgh, City of
£12,173
 449,020
£27
£18,577
 448,080
£41
£18,581
 448,370
£41


 Eilean Siar
£6,621
 26,450
£250
£7,005
 26,200
£267
£7,700
 26,100
£295


 Falkirk
£8,331
 145,270
£57
£9,788
 145,560
£67
£11,820
 145,920
£81


 Fife
£25,748
 349,770
£74
£28,801
 350,700
£82
£34,024
 352,040
£97


 Glasgow City
£31,824
 578,710
£55
£42,439
 577,350
£74
£39,614
 577,090
£69


 Highland
£18,987
 208,920
£91
£26,937
 208,140
£129
£25,880
 209,080
£124


 Inverclyde
£5,017
 84,150
£60
£6,333
 83,600
£76
£6,261
 83,050
£75


 Midlothian
£6,445
 80,950
£80
£6,486
 80,500
£81
£7,459
 79,710
£94


 Moray
£6,451
 87,000
£74
£7,827
 86,740
£90
£8,432
 87,460
£96


 North Ayrshire
£8,974
 135,820
£66
£10,286
 135,650
£76
£11,531
 136,030
£85


 North Lanarkshire
£22,436
 321,180
£70
£30,621
 321,350
£95
£28,843
 321,820
£90


 Orkney Islands
£8,318
 19,220
£433
£9,569
 19,210
£498
£9,970
 19,310
£516


 Perth and Kinross
£12,837
 134,950
£95
£13,963
 135,160
£103
£15,787
 135,990
£116


 Renfrewshire
£13,019
 172,850
£75
£14,359
 171,940
£84
£15,864
 170,980
£93


 Scottish Borders
£10,405
 106,950
£97
£12,639
 107,400
£118
£14,672
 108,280
£136


 Shetland Islands
£13,680
 21,960
£623
£15,216
 21,940
£694
£16,606
 21,870
£759


 South Ayrshire
£9,244
 112,160
£82
£11,819
 111,670
£106
£11,071
 111,580
£99


 South Lanarkshire
£25,178
 302,340
£83
£31,911
 302,110
£106
£34,356
 303,010
£113


 Stirling
£6,474
 86,200
£75
£6,215
 86,150
£72
£6,871
 86,370
£80


 West Dunbartonshire
£6,721
 93,320
£72
£7,686
 92,830
£83
£8,104
 92,320
£88


 West Lothian
£11,810
 159,030
£74
£13,259
 159,960
£83
£14,198
 161,020
£88


 Scotland
£372,569
 5,064,200
£108
£455,722
 5,054,800
£126
£486,649
 5,057,400
£136



  

 Local Authority
 2004-05


 (£000)
 Pop.
 Per Capita


 Aberdeen City
£15,991
 203,450
£79


 Aberdeenshire
£25,920
 232,850
£111


 Angus
£12,395
 108,560
£114


 Argyll and Bute
£15,494
 91,190
£170


 Clackmannanshire
£3,373
 48,240
£70


 Dumfries and Galloway
£19,559
 147,930
£132


 Dundee City
£11,470
 141,870
£81


 East Ayrshire
£11,838
 119,720
£99


 East Dunbartonshire
£12,593
 106,550
£118


 East Lothian
£7,003
 91,580
£76


 East Renfrewshire
£7,612
 89,610
£85


 Edinburgh, City of
£19,753
 453,670
£44


 Eilean Siar
£7,472
 26,260
£285


 Falkirk
£11,765
 147,460
£80


 Fife
£31,177
 354,600
£88


 Glasgow City
£43,951
 577,670
£76


 Highland
£27,546
 211,340
£130


 Inverclyde
£6,485
 82,430
£79


 Midlothian
£6,674
 79,610
£84


 Moray
£10,151
 87,720
£116


 North Ayrshire
£11,786
 136,020
£87


 North Lanarkshire
£29,068
 322,790
£90


 Orkney Islands
£10,616
 19,500
£544


 Perth and Kinross
£14,762
 137,520
£107


 Renfrewshire
£15,894
 170,610
£93


 Scottish Borders
£14,691
 109,270
£134


 Shetland Islands
£17,867
 21,940
£814


 South Ayrshire
£11,503
 111,850
£103


 South Lanarkshire
£35,365
 305,410
£116


 Stirling
£7,567
 86,370
£88


 West Dunbartonshire
£7,972
 91,970
£87


 West Lothian
£13,755
 162,840
£84


 Scotland
£499,068
 5,078,400
£139



  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/15135954/151.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/15135954/153.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/25100154/04337.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/360/00360a-40.asp.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/08/18053/25683#113.

Waste Management

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that efforts by local authorities to meet the requirements of the EU landfill directive should focus on waste reduction and increased rates of reuse and recycling and whether these methods would be more timely and cost-effective than incineration.

Ross Finnie: We are encouraging the move away from landfill through a combination of waste prevention, re-use, recycling and composting and residual waste treatment. Generally, these measures have some cost and take time to set up which will vary according to circumstances. Our priority is to reduce waste as far as possible in line with the household waste prevention action plan and to work towards an ambitious target of over 50% recycling and composting by 2020. We would not provide public funding for incineration unless there was some form of energy recovery. However, residual waste treatment, including energy from waste, does have a role to play as is the case in many countries in Europe with high recycling rates and limited use of landfill.

Waste Management

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the outline business cases of the (a) Lothians and Borders and (b) North and South Lanarkshire strategic options review groups on National Waste Plan funding will be published and whether there will be any public consultation before decisions are reached.

Ross Finnie: We have requested that Outline Business Cases from both groups of local authorities are submitted by 30 September 2007. They will be published shortly after that with commercially confidential information removed.

  The indicative funding awards to the groups include conditions to ensure full public participation, taking account of any obligations which may arise under Strategic Environmental Assessment legislation. In addition, the Outline Business Cases must represent the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO).

Waste Management

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of household waste was recycled by each local authority in the most recent period for which information is available.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32365 on 26 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .